Phonic Screening Check

Due to the children missing the Summer term, the statutory Phonics screening test for the then Year 1 children did not take place. Thus, it has been decided that the present Year 2 Oak children will undergo the Phonic Screening check in the second half of the Autumn term.

What is the Phonic Screening Check?

The Phonics Screening Check is meant to show how well your child can use the phonics skills they’ve learned up to the end of Year 1, and to identify students who need extra phonics help. The Department for Education defines the checks as “short, light-touch assessments” that take about four to nine minutes to complete.

What is it all about?

The check consists of 40 words and non-words that your child will be asked to read one-on-one with a teacher. Non-words (or nonsense words, or pseudo words) are a collection of letters that will follow phonic rules your child has been taught, but don’t mean anything – your child will need to read these with the correct sounds to show that they understand the phonic rules behind them.

The 40 words and non-words are divided into two sections – one with simple word structures of three or four letters (mainly phase 3 sounds), and one with more complex word structures of five or six letters (phase 5 sounds). The teacher administering the check with your child will give them a few practice words to read first – including some non-words – so they understand more about what they have to do. Each of the non-words is presented with a picture of a monster / alien, as if the word were their name (and so your child doesn’t think the word is a mistake because it doesn’t make sense!).

Most children in the age group of Year 1 will take the check. The Department for Education then publishes the “pass threshold” and schools are able to mark the check. (This has previously been 32 out of 40 correctly read words). You will be told how your child did; if your child does not meet the “pass threshold” they will retake the check again in year 2.

How you can help your child prepare?

You can help your child prepare for their Phonics Screening Check by going over the phonics they’ve learned in Reception and Year 1. In school the children will be having lots of practice for the check but if you do have any concerns please speak to Mrs Edge.

• Teach Your Monster to Read
• Phonic cards
• Phonic lists
• Sounding out new words in books
• Online phonic games (Fonics, phonics play, topmarks, phonics bloom, bbc bitesize and ICT games).
• Make your own Phonics check with real and alien words.
• Online videos.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IPJ_ZEBh1Bk

The video demonstrates some of the words possibly given during the check and sounds/ blends which are accepted.